Ssamjang pasta, unique Korean-Italian fusion recipe made with the condiment Ssamjang. The pasta gets a very unique umami taste from the fermented bean paste, which pairs beautiful pasta creating a thick creamy sauce with the garlic, parmesan and milk.
Ssamjang Pasta Recipe
Korean seasoned bean paste pasta is truly addictive. The kind of dish that surprises you with how much flavour it holds. The garlic, soy, chilli and fermented bean notes melt beautifully into the creamy pasta. You think you'll stop after one serving… but you'll definitely go back for seconds.
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It's a flavour-packed meal that everyone should try at least once in their lifetime. What makes it truly special is how it bridges both Korean & Italian cuisine so effortlessly. One bowl is enough to convince anyone that ssamjang deserves a permanent place in the pantry.
What is Ssamjang?
Ssamjang is a popular, thick Korean condiment and dipping sauce known for its sweet, savoury, spicy flavor profile. Ssamjang paste also known as Korean Seasoned bean paste. The name"ssam" means wrap, and "jang" means thick paste.
Ssamjang paste is not an ingredient but it is a prepared sauce using garlic, onions, gochujang, doenjang and seasonings. Traditionally ssamjang is served as a dipping sauce for Korean bbq.
About Ssamjang Pasta
I was introduced to ssamjang paste during our recent trip to South Korea. It was served as a dipping sauce alongside Korean BBQ - and that first taste was unforgettable. The paste has a unique yet pungent flavour, with bold notes of garlic, gochujang and onions. Paired with plain rice and grilled meat, it was a match made in heaven.
This is our favourite way to eat it. We'd wrap a piece of grilled meat, a spoon of rice, raw garlic and a tiny bit of ssamjang in a crisp lettuce leaf… and enjoy that perfect bite. Truly chef's kiss.
Before flying back home, I made sure to bring a container of ssamjang with me. We continued enjoying it as a dipping sauce for our homemade Korean BBQ nights - and honestly, that was the only way I ever used it. Until recently - Thanks to the popular cooking show "Culinary Class Wars", I discovered that ssamjang can be used in pasta! I was curious enough to try it… and I'm so glad I did. The result was creamy, savoury, smoky and absolutely delicious. Ssamjang in pasta was a game changer and now it's going to be a staple in my kitchen.
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Ingredients
Butter - a good amount of butter added in the pasta adds rich taste to the dish.
Ssamjang - also known as seasoned bean paste. It already has added flavours like garlic, onion, gochujang. Ssamjang usually comes in its iconic green tub.
Garlic - you can add more or less depending on your taste.
Gochugaru - this helps create the deep orange colour sauce and also adds heat.
Salt & pepper - adds flavour and taste to the dish.
Milk - some recipe uses cream, but I found out milk adds creamy texture without too much fat.
Parmesan - make sure to use freshly grated parmesan cheese which creates base creamy sauce.
Sesame - toasted crushed sesame seeds is used as topping along with extra parmesan and chopped green onions.
Expert Tips
- If you don't have ssamjang, you can swap it for miso paste along with some chopped onions and gochujang.
- Finish the pasta with green onions, toasted sesame seeds for nutty touch.
- Make sure to reserve pasta water to loosen the pasta as needed.
- You can use any pasta of your choice.
Step by Step Pictures
1)This is Ssamjang also known as seasoned bean paste. It already has added flavours like garlic, onion, gochujang. Ssamjang usually comes in its iconic green tub.
2) If you don't have Ssamjang, you can swap it for miso paste along with some chopped onions and gochujang.
3)Bring lots of water to a full boil. Add in salt and pasta into the hot water. Cook until package directions. Meanwhile start making the sauce.
4)In a separate pan, add in butter. Now add in garlic and ssamjang. Stir fry for couple of minutes.
5)Cooking ssamjang in butter makes it aromatic and slightly nutty.
6)Now add in red pepper powder, salt, black pepper powder and mix well.
7)Reduce the flame to a low, Pour in milk while mixing constantly.
8)Once the milk is mixed into the sauce. Add in parmesan cheese and mix well.
9)Ssamjang pasta sauce is ready.
11)Now the pasta must be cooked, take the pasta from the boiling water using some tongs and add directly into the sauce.
12) Pour in a ladleful of pasta cooking water. Toss it well into the sauce so it emulsifies.
13)Ssamjang pasta is ready.
14)Now serve pasta with a sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds, spring onions and parmesan cheese.
📖 Recipe Card
Ssamjang Pasta Recipe
Equipment
- Cooking pot
Ingredients
For Cooking pasta
- 150 grams Spaghetti
- 2 litre water
- 1 tablespoon Salt
For Ssamjang Pasta Sauce
- 3 tablespoon Butter
- 5 cloves Garlic peeled & chopped finely
- 3 tablespoon Ssamjang (Korean Seasoned Bean Paste ) check notes
- 2 teaspoon Gochugaru (Korean Red Pepper powder)
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1 teaspoon Black Pepper powder
- 1 cup Milk
- ¼ cup Parmesan Cheese
For Serving
- 2 teaspoon Roasted Sesame Seeds crushed
- 2 teaspoon Parmesan Cheese
- 1 no Spring onions chopped finely
Instructions
- Bring lots of water to a full boil. Add in salt and pasta into the hot water. Cook until package directions. Meanwhile start making the sauce.
- In a separate pan, add in butter. Now add in garlic and ssamjang. Stir fry for couple of minutes. Now add in red pepper powder, salt, black pepper powder and mix well. Reduce the flame to a low, Pour in milk while mixing constantly. Once the milk is mixed into the sauce. Add in parmesan cheese and mix well.
- Now the pasta must be cooked, take the pasta from the boiling water using some tongs and add directly into the sauce. Pour in a ladleful of pasta cooking water. Toss it well into the sauce so it emulsifies.
- Now serve pasta with a sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds, spring onions and parmesan cheese.
Notes
- If you don't have ssamjang, you can swap it for miso paste along with some chopped onions and gochujang.
- Finish the pasta with green onions, toasted sesame seeds for nutty touch.
- Make sure to reserve pasta water to loosen the pasta as needed.
- You can use any pasta of your choice.
Nutrition
If you have any questions not covered in this post and if you need help, leave me a comment or mail me @aarthi198689@gmail.com and I'll help as soon as I can.
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